Eyeleting-machine



L. F. MUTHER.

EYELETING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY10,1918.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

L. F. MUTHER.

EYELETING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 191B.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lw-uevfior: I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LORENZ F. MUTI-IER, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

EYELETING-MACI-IINE.

Application filed May 10, 1918.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LORENZ F. MUTI-IER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newton, in the county of 'hTlClCllGSQX and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in lilyeleting-lVfa chines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to machines for setting eyelets and more particularly to that type of automatic eyeleting machine which perforates the material and sets the eyelet and feeds the material progressively.

Heretofore in setting eyelets in canvas and other woven fabrics, it has been customary to punch a hole through the fabric and then to set the eyelet in the hole so punched, but this has been objectionable because the threads of the fabric are cut where the hole is made and after a short use the ends of the cut threads are apt to pull out from between the clenched sides of the eye let. The eyelet thereupon becomes loose and the hole is enlarged by the fraying of the ends of the cut threads which prevents any repair except by an unsightly patch.

The main object of my invention is to provide means in an eyeleting machine for setting eyelets in canvas and other woven fabrics without cutting or breaking the threads of the fabric and to this end means are provided for making a hole to receive the eyelet by separating or spreading apart the threads of the fabric and then setting an eyelet in the hole so formed.

Another important object of my invention is to provide means for clenching the end of the barrel of the eyelet over a washer in order to have a finished surface presented upon both sides of thefabric in which the eyelet is set.

Other objects of the invention will be more specifically set forth and described hereinafter.

My invention contemplates an eyeleting machine having provision for piercing the fabric to separate the threads and thereby form a hole; for feeding an eyelet from one side of the fabric through the hole so formed and for clenching the end of the barrel of the eyelet over a washer upon the other side of the fabric.

In the accompanying drawings my invention is shown and describedas applied to an Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Serial No. 233,691.

eyeleting machine constructed and operated as shown in Letters Patent No. 686,928, issued upon the application of P. R. Glass, but my lnvention is not to be limited to such application as it is capable, with slight changes of construction which would be evident to anyone skilled in the art, of being used with various other types of eyeleting machines.

For the sake of clearness, the mode of operation of the Glass machine, as shown by the patent hereinbefore referred to and to which reference may be made for a more detailed description, may now be set forth. In that machine, the operative parts comprise a combined punch and setting tool for punching the work and clenching the eyelet, a lower set for presenting an eyelet, for pushing it through the hole in the work and causing it to be clenched by forcing the end of the barrel of the eyelet against the setting shoulder of the punch. The entire op eration of setting eyelets is accomplished by these two tools operated by means of suitable cams and other devices in conjunction with a raceway for feeding eyelets and a work table or support for holding the work. In setting an eyelet by the Glass machine the stock or material in which the eyelet is to be set is placed upon the work table with the wrong side uppermost, and-the machine is then started. The punch is caused to descend and to punch a hole in the work, the punch for this purpose engaging a small punch block set in the work table. After perforating, the punch is raised slightly just enough to release it from the punch block, and is then moved laterally from right to left, (viewing the machine from the front) the punch remaining in the hole and carrying the material with it. As the punch approaches the end of its feeding movement, the length of which may be regulated by suitable adjusting devices, a lower set moves upwardly, taking from a suitable raceway an eyelet, the set having a central spindle for positioning the eyelet upon its upper end. The lower set continuing on its upward journey, forces the eyelet up into the stock around the barrel of the punch until the end of the barrel of the eyelet in engaging the setting shoulder on the punch, is split, turned over and clenched upon the wrong side of the material. The punch. at the conclusion of the setting operation,

moves upwardly, releasing itself from the stock and moves back from left to right to its initial starting point, the lower set, at the same time, moving downwardly in a position to take another eyelet from the raceway. In applying my invention to the Glass machine, the operation of the machine is not aflected, the difference in result being due to a different tool inserted in the machine in place of the combined punch and set, and to a diflerently constructed work plate. It has been, therefore, unnecessary to show any parts of the Glass machine other than the punch bar, adapted to carry the tool, and the lower set in the present application.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a plan view of a work table for an eyeleting machine embodying the main features of my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal vertical section of the same on line 83 in Fig. 1 showing in addition a similar sectional view of the piercing tool; Fig. 4 is a crosssectional view on line 4-4 in Fig. 1; Figs.

5 to 8 inclusive are diagrammatic views showing four successive stages in the setting of an eyelet according to my invention; and Fig. 9 is a detail view showing how the eyelet is set in the work.

Referring to the drawings showing my invention applied to the Glass machine, 10 designates a work table or work support having two depending lugs or pins 12 adapted to engage corresponding recesses in the frame of the eyeleting machine to which the work table may be applied. In the punch bar 14 of the machine is screwed a piercing tool 16 and in this tool and in the work table reside the novel features of my invention.

, The piercing tool 16 is provided with a shank 18, adapted for threaded engagement with the punch bar; with a round point 20 adapted to separate the threads of a fabric, and with a setting or clenching surface 22.

For the purpose-of constituting a support for the fabric during the piercing operation, the work plate is provided with a transverse recess 24 extending entirely across the plate and being beveled inwardly from top to bottom so that the recess is wider at the bottom. Within the recess is slidably mounted two plates 26, each of which is held inwardly by a spring 28 lying within a bore in the plate and abutting at its outer end a plate 32 fastened to the side of the work plate 10 by screws 34 to close the recess. A pin 36 arranged in the center may be provided in order to prevent the two plates 26 coming together which might interfere with the operationv of the machine by not aflording an initial opening for the point of the piercing tool 16 as it starts to descend. The springs 28 tend to keep said plates in their normalinward position at all times, yet permitting the plates to be spread apart by the piercing tool in its descent.

After the piercing tool has passed through the work it then feeds the work from right to left and the work plate is provided with a central longitudinal recess 40 to permit movement of the piercing tool.v On each side of the recess 40 is arranged; a plate 42 secured to the work plate lay-screws 44 and each having a vertical upwardly extending flange 46, the flange sloping downwardly toward the right. These flanges serve to push the work up on the barrel of the piercing tool as it is fed from right to left,toward the setting point. The left or setting end of the work plate is provided with a wide, open slot 48, circular at its inner end to permit the piercing tool and the lower set 50 to come together in the setting operation.

Within the lower set is located a spindle 52 for picking off an eyelet from a suitable raceway, the spindle being retractable within the set against a spring (not shown) when the lower set and piercing tool come. together in the clenching operation.

A raceway 54 may be provided and located adjacent the piercing tool when in its initial position, this raceway being adapted to carry washers 58 to be taken one at a time by the piercing tool when it starts its movement. A second raceway 56 is provided and intended to cooperate with the lower set, this raceway carrying eyelets 59. Both raceways are mounted on suitable parts of the machine and the method of mounting them, and their operation, is well known in the art.

A work gage 60 may be provided, against which the edge of the work is to be held during the operation of the machine. This gage may be mounted on the work plate in any suitable manner, but as shown is provided with a straight portion 62 against which the edge of the work is held, and with a depending portion 64 carrying a pin 66 adapted to engage a transverse bore in the work plate. This pin is locked in any adjusted position by a set screw 68 inserted from the end of the plate, thereby fixing the coaction of the gage. The other end of the gage is provided with an upright extension 70 having an overhanging flange 7 2, to prevent the work being raised too far during the operations and when the punch is withdrawn at the conclusion of the clenching of the eyelet.

In the use and operation of my machine the various parts are adjusted as explained in the Glass patent hereinbefore referred to and the machine is then ready. The work in which the eyelets are to be set is placed upon the work support 10, wrong side uppermost, with the point at which the first eyelet is to be set directly under the piercing tool 16. The parts are then in the position shown in Fig. 1. Upon the starting of the machine, the piercing tool 16 descends, taking a washer 58 from the raceway 54 before the end 20 of the piercing tool strikes the fabric. As the piercing tool descends its point enters the fabric and separates the threads and, at the same time, enters be tween the two plates 26 thereby forcing them apart against the pressure of the springs 28, the plates serving to support the work while it is being pierced without interfering with the operation of the piercing tool. At the end of its downward journey the tool 16 is in the position shown in Fig. 6 and a hole has been formed by separating or spreading apart the threads without breaking them. From this position the tool is carried laterally into the position shown in Fig. 7 feeding the work with it, during which movement the work has been forced up on the barrel of the tool by means of the flanges as. Meanwhile, during these movements of the piercing tool, the lower set 50, by means of the spindle 52, has picked an eyelet 59 from the raceway 56 and by the time the piercing tool reaches the end of its feeding movement, the lower set 50 has moved upwardly into such position that its further movement carries the eyelet over the end 20 of the piercing tool, up and through the hole in the fabric. As the end of the barrel of the eyelet engages the setting shoulder 22 of the piercing tool it is split, turned over and clenched upon the washer by the pressure of the lower set against the piercing tool as shown in Fig. 8. After the completion of the setting operation the piercing tool moves upwardly, withdrawing from the work, and moves from left to right to the initial starting point; while the lower set moves downwardly into a position to take another eye let from the raceway in order to repeat the operation. In Fig. 9 is shown a sectional View of the completed work, the end of the barrel of the eyelet being turned over to hold'the washer in place upon the fabric, thereby giving the eyelet on both sides of the fabric a finished appearance.

It will be observed that by'means of my invention eyelets may be set in woven or knitted fabrics without cutting the threads or injuring the fabric in any way. Furthermore, by the use of two raceways I am enabled to clench the end of the barrel of an eyelet over a washer on the wrong side of the work, which results in the eyelet presenting a finished surface on the wrong side of the work.

It is further to be noted that by means of my invention this work may be done in an automatic machine with great rapidity, thereby economizing in labor and time;

What I claim is 1. An eyeleting machine having, in combination, a tool for spreading apart the threads in a fabric to form a hole, said tool being arranged to feed the material, a support for holding the fabric while said hole is being formed, said support being split to permit said tool to form the hole and feed the material, and means for clenching an eyelet in the hole so formed.

2. An eyeleting machine having, in combination, a tool for spreading apart the threads in a fabric to form a hole, said tool being arranged to feed the material, a support for holding the fabric while said hole is being formed, said support being split to permit said tool to form the hole and feed the material and means for clenching the eyelet in the hole so formed before said tool is withdrawn from said hole.

3. An eyeleting machine, having, in combination, a pointed tool for spreading apart the threads of a fabric to form a hole, means for delivering a washer onto said tool before it engages said fabric, a support for said fabric while said hole is being formed, said support being split to permit the point of said tool to pass below ,said support, means for feeding said fabric and means for feeding an eyelet into said hole and clenching it upon said washer before said tool is withdrawn therefrom.

4:. An eyeleting machine, having, in combination, a pointed tool for separating the threads of a fabric to form a hole, said tool being adapted to feed the fabric, means for delivering a washer to said tool before it engages the fabric, a support for the fabric while the hole is being formed by said tool, said support being in two parts movable to permit said tool to enter in between said parts and means for forcing an eyelet into said hole and around said tool and for clenching it \upon said washer.

5. An eyeleting machine, having, in combination, a pointed tool for spreading apart the threads of a fabric to form a hole, means for feeding a washer onto said tool before it engages the fabric, means for feeding the fabric and means for forcing an eyelet from the under side of said fabric into said hole and around said tool and for clenching it upon said washer.

6. An eyeleting machine, having, in combination, a pointed tool for spreading apart the threads of a fabric to form a hole, a raceway for delivering a washer to said tool before it engages the fabric, a support for said fabric while said hole is being formed, said support being split to permit the point of said tool to move the parts of said support apart inits downward'movement, and means for forcing an eyelet from one side of said fabric into said hole and around said tool and for clenching the end of the barrel of the eyelet over said washer on the other side of said fabric before said tool is withdrawn from the fabric.

7. An eyeleting machine, having, in combination, a tool for separating the threads of a fabric to form a hole, means for delivering a washer to said tool before it engages the fabric and means for forcing an eyelet from the under side of said fabric through said hole and for clenching the end of the barrel of said eyelet over said washer; said tool being arranged to feed the fabric before the setting of the eyelet.

8. An eyeleting machine having, in combination, a pointed tool for separating the threads of a fabric to form a hole, means for delivering a washer to said tool before it engages the fabric, means for supporting the fabric while said hole is being formed, a lower set for forcing an eyelet from the under side of said fabric into said hole, means for delivering an eyelet to said set and means carried by said tool for clenching the eyelet over said washer and means for feeding the fabric.

9. An eyeleting machine having, in combination, a tool for forming a hole in the material, said tool being arranged to feed the material, a support for holding the material while said hole is being formed, said support being split to permit said tool to form the hole and feed the material, and means for clenching an eyelet in the hole so formed.

l0. An eyeleting machine having, in combination, a pointed tool for forming a hole in the material in which the eyelet is to be set and for feeding the material, a support for the material, said support being split to permit said tool to pass through said support during the forming of the hole and to move while in a lowermost position to feed the material, means for raising the material on said tool while it is being fed and means for feeding an eyelet into said hole and for clenching it upon said material.

11. An eyeleting machine having, in combination, a pointed tool for spreading apart the threads of a fabric to form a hole and for feeding the fabric, a support for the material, said support being split to permit said tool to pass through said support during the forming of the hole and to feed the material, flanges for forcing the material upwardly cn said tool as it is being fed and means for clenching an eyelet in said hole.

12. An eyeleting machine having, in combination, a sharp tool for forming a hole in the material, means for feeding a washer, means for feeding an eyelet into said hole and for clenching the end of the barrel of said eyelet over the washer while said tool remains in the hole and means for feeding the material.-

rial and means including said tool for feeding the material.

14. An eyeleting machine, having, in combination, a pointed toolfor spreading apart the threads of a fabric to form a hole; a

support for the fabric while the hole is be ing formed by the tool, said support being split to permit the two parts of said support to be separated by the tool in its downward movement between them, said tool being arranged to feed the material after the hole has been formed therein.

15. An eyeleting machine having, in combination, a pointed tool for forming a hole in and for feeding the material, a split support for the material and means for clenching an eyelet in the hole so formed.

16. An eyeleting machine, having, in combination, a pointed tool for forming a hole in the material in which the eyelet is to be set, means for feeding a washer to one side of said material, means for feeding an eyelet to the other sideof said material, means for clenching the end of the barrel of said eyelet over said washer and means for feeding the material in a step by step manner through the machine.

17. An eyeleting machine, having, in combination, a pointed tool for forming a hole in the material in which the eyelet is to be set, means for moving said tool to feed the material, means for feeding a washer to one side of said material, means for feeding an eyelet to the other side of said material and into said hole and means for clenching the end of the barrel of the eyelet over said washer.

18. An eyeleting machine, having, in combination, a pointed tool for forming a hole in the material in which the eyelet is to be set by spreading apart the fibers or threads of said material, said tool being arranged to feed the material, means for forcing the material upwardly 0n the tool during the feeding movement and means for feeding an eyelet to said hole and for clenching it upon said material.

19. An eyeleting machine, having, in combination, a tool with its end shaped for spreading apart the fibers to form a hole in the material in which the eyelet is to be set, means for moving said tool to feed said material while said tool remains in the material, means for forcing the material further on said tool during the feeding move ment and two cooperating sets for clenching an eyelet upon said material.

20'. An eyeleting machine having, in combination, a tool with its end shaped for piercing a hole in the material in which the eyelet is to be set, means for moving said tool to feed said material while said tool remains in said material, means for forcing the material further on said tool during the feeding movement, means for delivering a washer to one side of said material, means for delivering an eyelet to the other side of said material and means for clenching the end of the .barrel of the eyelet over and upon said washer.

21. An eyeleting machine having, in combination, a tool provided with a pointed end for separating the fibers in a fabric to form a hole, said tool being arranged to feed the material through the machine in a step by step manner and being provided with a setting shoulder, means for feeding a washer onto said tool before the hole is pierced, a set for forcing an eyelet into said hole and against the setting shoulder on said tool to clench it over and upon said washer.

22. An eyeleting machine having, in combination, a tool with its end shaped for piercing a hole in the material in which the eyelet is to be set, a support for the material while the hole is being pierced, said support being made up of two plates normally with a space between to receive the point of the tool and being movable apart to permit the tool to enter between said parts during the operation of piercing the hole, means for feeding the material, means for feeding a washer to one side of said material, means for feeding an eyelet to the other side of said material and means for clenching the end of the barrel of the eyelet over and upon the washer.

23. An eyeleting machine having, in combination, a pointed tool for separating the threads in a fabric to form a hole, a support for the fabric while said hole is being formed, said support being made up of two movable plates normally separated a slight distance to permit the point of the tool to enter between them in the beginning of its movement, said, plates being laterally movable to permit the further entrance of the tool during the piercing operation, means whereby said tool is arranged to feed the material after said hole is formed, means for pushing the fabric further onto said tool as it is fed and means for feeding an eyelet into said hole and clenching the end of its barrel on the other side of said fabric while said tool remains in the fabric.

24:. An eyeleting machine having, in combination, a tool with its end shaped for piercing a hole in the material in which the eyelet is to be set, said tool being arranged for feeding said material, means for forcing the material further on said tool during the feeding movement, means for feeding a washer to one side of said material and means for feeding an eyelet to the other side of said material and for clenching the end of the barrel of the eyelet over and upon said washer.

25. In an eyeleting machine, the combination with a pointed tool for forming a hole in and for feeding the material and means for clenching an eyelet in the hole so formed, of a support for the material comprising two movable plates normally separated sufficiently to permit the point of said tool to enter between them and resilient means for holding said plates in engagement with said tool when separated by it in the process of forming a hole in the material.

26. In an eyeleting machine, the combination with a pointed tool for forming a hole in the material, means for feeding the material and means for clenching an eyelet in said hole of a support for the material while said hole is being formed; said support comprising two movable plates between which the tool enters after passing through the material and resilient means for holding said plates in engagement with said tool.

27. In an eyeleting machine, the combination with a pointed tool for forming a hole in and for feeding the material and means for clenching an eyelet in said hole of a support for the material while said hole is being formed, said support comprising two movable plates between which the tool enters after passing through the material and resilient means for holding said plates in engagement with said tool, and means for forcing the material upwardly on said tool as it is fed forward.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of April, 1918.

LORENZ F. MUTHER. 

